Squash Bug Control on Watermelon, 1989

The efficacy of several insecticides was investigated in a test with small plots of watermelon grown on a clay laom soil at the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station near Stillwater. Plots were established on 18 May by transplanting seedling plants into plastic mulch. Experimental plots were 30 ft long by 10 ft wide, arranged in a randomized complete block design and replicated 4 times. A single insecticide application was made on 11 Aug, using a CO2 powered backpack sprayer delivering 30 gal/acre at 50 psi through 3 TX-18 hollow-cone nozzles Efficacy of treatments was assessed by randomly selecting 4 areas (1 m2) in each plot and counting squash bug nymphs on all plant parts and the mulch surface within each sample quadrant. Counts were made on 12 Aug (1 DAT), 15 Aug (4 DAT), and 18 Aug (7 DAT). Data were subjected to ANOVA and DMRT.